Chapter 20
Twenty
Electricity buzzes under my skin as I lie in bed this morning.
Flashes of midnight kisses on the couch with Milo flicker through my mind.
I rub the goosebumps from my arms and pull down the bed covers.
I rock my jaw, feeling the stretch from too much grinning during my sleep.
From the way my smile muscles ache, I’m guessing I was grinning all the way through my dreams until my alarm woke me up.
I sit on the edge of the bed and smooth back my wild bed hair. I giggle, remembering Milo’s adorable face as I walked away in the middle of the night. How will we act around each other this morning? Will it be awkward? Oh man, what if everyone can tell we’ve kissed? Will my face give it away?
Maybe I should avoid eye contact with Milo altogether.
I’ll at least keep our communication to a minimum.
While it’s still unexplored territory, I want to keep this a secret from Kai.
He can’t handle me being platonic with his brother.
I have to keep this thing between me and Milo on the down-low until I can fully comprehend and explain it.
Me and Milo. It’s surreal I’m even contemplating something romantic with this boy. Yet, it’s beyond that. We’re affectionate, close, and he makes me grin like a total goofball. How in the world does Milo Nelson have this hold over me?
I scuff across the bedroom, slip into a fluffy pair of slippers, and make my way to the bathroom to get freshened up for my workday. As I reach for the bathroom door handle, it turns. The door swings open and I’m face to face with Milo.
My insides melt down to goo, and I lean to the side. “Hi,” I whisper pathetically.
His teeth graze his bottom lip as he smiles. “Hey.”
I run a hand through my hair and my body temperature sizzles. “How are you?”
“I’m good, considering I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Gandalf kept you up?”
He folds his arms and looks down and to the side. Nervousness twitches the corners of his smile. “Ah, more like thoughts of someone else had me up all night.”
Self-consciously, I tug at the neckline of my pajama shirt. “Oh. Umm. Okay.”
Milo puffs a murmured laugh, smoothing down his t-shirt and fidgeting in his stance.
While my mind blanks on anything to add to the dwindling conversation, Kai’s bedroom door bursts open beside us.
Kai walks out and double-takes at us. “Milo, grow a brain. Get out of Jamie’s way.”
As Kai cuts through the upstairs living room and then makes his way downstairs, Milo and I awkwardly pass each other in the bathroom doorway.
We mutter nonsensical things, trying to act cooler than we are.
I wave goodbye and close the door. The silence in the cream-tiled bathroom allows my heart to pound in my ears.
That was torturous.
Kai’s interruption sent my head spinning.
My heart can barely keep up. I exhale a steadying breath, pull a towel from the cupboard and rest it by the bathtub.
I run the water in the shower and peel off my pajamas.
Once steam billows off the water, I jump in, ready to wash off the awkwardness so I can get to work with a refreshed mindset.
After my shower, I make my way downstairs with my laptop bag.
Last Sunday, all I could think about was leaving work so I could hang with Kai at the skatepark.
This Sunday, I’m taking my homework with me so I can work on it during quiet periods during my shift.
The likelihood of that is low, considering Pancake Stacks Sunday is our busiest day of the week, but you never know. I’d rather feel prepared.
Yeah, seriously, who am I?
Chirpiness bounces off the walls as family members move about the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Not only are Kai’s parents driving me to work, they’re taking their family out for breakfast at our cafe.
Grandma Nelson wraps me up in a hug the moment she sees me. While she squeezes and sways me, I spy Milo chatting with his grandpa. Gandalf’s baby carrier is slung over his forearm. I peel myself away from Grandma and clutch the handle of the baby carrier.
Milo gives me a questioning look, and I say, “I’ll take him from here. You look like you could use a rest.”
Milo smiles, rubbing his red-lined eyes as he lets me take possession of the baby carrier. “I don’t know how parents function,” Milo says, yawning.
Grandpa chuckles. “This fake baby is a miracle worker. Gives kids appreciation for their parents.”
“He means parents of newborns,” I say. “Once kids can walk and talk, they’re not as much effort.”
Grandpa and Grandma burst into wild laughter. Grandma wipes under her eye, grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t let Grace hear you say that. It’ll be your head.”
“Okay, everyone ready?” Mrs. Nelson calls out, striding out from the kitchen with an almighty clap. “We need to take two cars. Where’s Steve?”
Mr. Nelson jingles his car keys from his comfortable armchair. “Just reading the news while I wait for everyone.”
Mrs. Nelson huffs. “Yes, honey, you’re always ready. Where’s your wallet?”
“It’s right…” Mr. Nelson gets up from the armchair and moves toward the rear of the house to his bedroom. “I’ll be right back.”
“Remember to pick up your cell while you’re in there,” Mrs. Nelson calls after him. Kai exits the kitchen, as his mother continues, “Okay, Kai’s taking his car because he wants to drive Tabitha in. Dad will take the sedan so Grandma and Grandpa are comfortable.”
Kai eyes his mom. “And you’re going with them?”
She pinches the tip of Kai’s nose. “I’m going with you, darling. I want to meet this girl’s parents.”
Kai frowns. “At eight in the morning?”
“That’s the time we’re all meeting her,” she replies.
Kai shrugs. “Fine, whatever.”
My hands tingle in suspense. “Ahh. Tabitha’s coming to my cafe?”
Kai grins. “She’ll love it. Plus, it’ll give you two a chance to hang out outside of school.”
“Jamie’s not there to socialize, she’s there to work. Don’t distract her just because her aunt’s away.” Mrs. Nelson beckons everyone toward the garage. “Okay, let’s go. Jamie can’t be late for work.”
Milo gestures to the baby carrier. “We can’t all fit in Dad’s car. The carrier needs to be strapped in or it’ll register as abuse.”
I lift the carrier, making sure not to knock Gandalf. “We haven’t done all this work to fail at the last minute. I’ll go with Kai.”
“No, you’ll be late if you come with us,” Mrs. Nelson says as her husband wanders back to us. “Milo, you’ll come with us. Honey, make sure Jamie’s baby carrier is fastened tight in the back seat before you take off.”
“No problemo,” Mr. Nelson says, leading the way to the garage.
Kai follows, pulling on a bomber jacket. “Today, Milo.”
Mr. Nelson chuckles. “Kai, you’re a nervous wreck. Take a breath.”
Milo shoots me a look as he walks to the garage door. The apprehension in his eyes mirrors the dread seeping into my stomach.
I. Do. Not. Want. Tabitha. Jones. In. My. Cafe.
Should I get a sign made and stick it on the front door of Morton’s Cafe?
Ugh. Seriously. Why do they have to do a meet and greet at my family’s business?
Can’t they do it here while I’m at work?
I don’t want to witness this. Plus, I don’t want someone who torments me in the school halls to enter the space where I work.
All those people are supposed to stay at Village Coffee on the other end of Main Street.
At the cafe, I seat Mr. Nelson, Grandma, and Grandpa at the long stretched table reserved for them. I leave Gandalf with them and walk behind the counter. I pull on an apron and my hands tremor as I yank on the ties and twist them around my middle.
“Hey, sport,” Jake says, viewing me from the food pass. “You okay? Looks like some angry tying there.”
I drop the ties of the apron and flex my fingers. My knuckles crack from the furious hand movements. “I’m fine.”
Laura comes out of the kitchen. “Kylie took tables one through ten so you could have the section with your friends.”
My gut plummets. “No.”
Laura blinks at me. “Excuse me?”
I shake my head. “Sorry. It’s just I’d prefer not to serve them.”
“Since when?”
I cover with, “I’m already seeing too much of them. Who knew living with your best friend could be too much of a good thing.”
Laura laughs, picking up a coffee pot. “Well, too bad. Kylie’s already started and you know how confusing it can get when we swap tables. I’m sure you and your bestie can handle it.”
I fake a smile and ready my station. Lucky for the other tables in my section, they’re about to get a whole lot of attention. I’m willing to do anything to avoid Tabitha’s snarky comments.
I start Mr. Nelson and the grandparents on coffee while they wait for the others. Gandalf gurgles while I stroke his stomach. It’s weird to think he’ll be gone in a few hours.
For the next fifteen minutes, I busy myself with tables until the distinct noises of Kai and the others bustle into the cafe.
My back seizes and I carefully look their way.
My gaze stays low, scared to look her directly in the eyes.
I’ve barely seen her outside of school, so I don't know if her vindictiveness is better or worse in a different environment. A twinkle of hope lights inside me. Maybe it’ll be better.
There has to be a reason Kai keeps gravitating toward her when school finishes.
Everyone at the table makes a fuss, leaping up to welcome Tabitha with hugs. While they huddle together, I edge toward the table to collect Gandalf. With all the focus on Tabitha, I don’t want him to get neglected.
“You can leave him here,” Milo says softly, moving toward the other end of the table. “I’m happy to watch him while you work.”
“It’s okay,” I say with a smile. “I’ll put him behind the counter. Things at your table might get a little preoccupied.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t though.”
I lean in and whisper. “I know your mom, though. She’ll drag you into the conversation whether you like it or not.”